Races | Dori's Shiny Blog

Excellent news: My hip is back to normal. What happened last week was just irritation from a new workout, and I definitely did not re-ignite te injury. I am now pain-free. I feel amazing. I will not try any new workouts that I am not sure I can easily modify — at least not until after November 6.

So when I got this email, I could not help myself:

Yeah. After a quick approval from my sister-in-law (I cannot make big decisions on my own), I was on the website signing up to run the marathon for charity.

SoleMates is the charity running program for Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a life-changing, experiential learning program for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goals of the programs are to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, and physical development. Our mission is to educate and prepare girls for a life time of self-respect and healthy living. Please check out our website athttp://www.girlsontherunsolemates.org/.

To learn more about Girls on the Run SoleMatesÂ click here

A few factors that influenced my decision:

If I can use my marathon experience for an incredible cause, why wouldn’t I?
Speaking of the cause. . . I feel strongly about this one guys. Really strongly. Girls on the Run teaches young girls self-confidence through exercise. (1) How me is that, right! and (2) I get sad when I see how much pressure (even more than when I was younger) there is on these young girls to look a certain way. A way that is not healthy or even possible in most cases. I want so much for my future children to not have this sort of pressure, not feel the way I often feel. I want them to believe they are perfect and lead an active, healthy life.
Not a scary fundraisingÂ commitment. I initially wanted to run with charities that required a $2,100 donation. While not impossible to raise, the number is daunting and caused some stress. I need to have as little stress as possible right now, especially since I am so busy. So nowÂ I can raise money and help a great cause without added pressure of not being able to meet my requirement.
Weekly team training runs appealed to me. The really long runs scare me. I worry about feeling bored, wanting to give up, not knowing how to plan a good route. With a group run, I just have to show up and push through. I will be motivate by others doing the same thing.
Free yoga sessions sound great too, although I did just buy a Living Social deal for this rooftop yoga studio. Stretching is always a good thing.
And from the pictures I saw, there is race day support on the course. I would love to have other Girls on the Run people cheering for me! I will need all the cheering I can get when I run my first (and only) marathon.

So this is where you kids come in. I want you all to donate, but don’t think I won’t try and make it worth your while. Last year’s Dori’s Shiny Charity Auction was a huge success and so much fun, but more time consuming (I had to take a day off work!) than I can do right now.

So I am having a raffle! I am raffling anÂ Exhale Spa 10-Class Pack of Core and Yoga Classes ($300-350 value).

At $35 for a single class in NYC (a little less in other locations), this is a really great deal.

Exhale 10-Class Pack Raffle Rules

$5 per entry – $10 = 2 entries; $15 = 3 entries; and on and on. The higher you bid, the more entries you get. I wanted this to be accessible to anyone, so as long as you’ve got $5 you have a shot!

Click here to donate and enter the raffle.

Please leave a comment to let me know you entered so I can separate people trying to win with those just donating without interest in the prize. I will announce the winner during next Tuesday’s post. Remember, it is $5 per entry. There is no limit to how many entries you can get.

[Photo: exhale spa]

ClickÂ here for Exhale Spa locations in NY, Massachusetts, Illinois, Florida, Texas, California and Turks & Caicos.

Thank you to exhale for donating the prize.

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I’ve got some running news for you on this humid May Tuesday.

I went on a work trip to Huntington Beach California earlier this month. Faced with theÂ opportunityÂ to run along the Pacific Ocean, I had no choice but to go for it.
Here is some photographic proof of the 10 miles I ran during my three days there. Yep. 10 miles. Two three mile runs at a cautiously slow pace and one amazing and speedy four miler where I finally felt like I was back from my injury:
This was not taken during a run, but look at the sunset from this trip:
Since coming back to New York City, I have now ran three times. All have gone well and been at a good pace considering I’ve been out of commission for months.
Don’t worry! I am taking it easy. I don’t run often, and I don’t push my pace. I just run in a way that feels natural.
Someone please explain to me why running is so much easier when there is a destination? For example, when I am running just to go for a run, I am constantly thinking about how long I have been running, how much more time I have left, my pace, my mileage, checking my watch, etc. But when I am running to a destination — like to Core Fusion Cardio this weekend — I can just enjoy my run because I know exactly how far I have to go and how close I am. Why is this? I want to enjoy all my runs in this easygoing way.
Case in point: This morning on my 3.5 mile run run, my first two miles were completed in 10:10 and 10:22 respectively. My return mile and a half was completed in 8:09 and 8:12. Because coming back, I had a destination: home.
Please explain.
Because of my hip injury and the possibility of not making it to the marathon, I decided not to run with Team for Kids this year.
I love Twitter. Without the training perks of Team for Kids, I needed a good marathon training plan that allows me to keep Refine Method and Core Fusion in my mix. I put out a request for help to create a marathon training plan. Stacy from Stacy’s Bootcamp created a magnificent custom training plan for me. She is awesome. Go take her class.
I am excited to start marathon training in July for the ING NYC Marathon!
I am excited to blog about my experience marathon training. How many people get to have a detailed account of training for their first and likely only marathon? I mean, in this world, lots. But in the grand scheme, not so many.
I am shocked by how many people commented on my hip injury posts to tell me I should just go ahead and get the surgery even if I’m not in pain. As I explained, I went to two different hip surgeons who BOTH told me I don’t need surgery. One of them was even a jerk! Surgery is their bread and butter, and if they both advised me to NOT give them thousands of dollars, I think there is a good reason for that.
My hip has been feeling so much better (knock on wood). I still avoid turning out, but I haven’t felt pain in awhile.
I am so happy I did not get surgery.
I registered for the Queens Half Marathon on July 30! I was on the fence because I don’t want to pay for a race that I might not be able to run (who knows what will happen with my hip), but it was about to fill up and I’d rather secure my spot and eat the $25. The race takes place in my hometown, so I won’t have to deal with the stress of traveling to an outer borough early in the morning. I can just stay at my mom’s and if she doesn’t want to drive me, it will be a $10 car service ride!
I also registered for the Celebrate Israel Run on June 5.Â Jews! It is a 4-miler, which I am totally ready for right now. I am excited to run in a race again. I will NOT try to PR — especially since my PR for this distance is my fastest race (not counting the 5th Avenue Mile) ever. I am proud to represent my people at my first race back.
I am obsessed with analyzing my Garmin maps post-run. I mean, look at this crazy one from last week! I ran to errands, to Core Fusion Cardio and to lunch. As I said above, destination running rules.
I will have an exciting announcement very soon. If you live in the NYC area and are around on (I think) Sunday, June 12, I would love you to participate in an outdoor fitness event! More details TK.
Even if my hip gets bad again, I am thankful for this time right now when I can run pain free. I am back!